A beautiful tomb - Old Vasco is one of the earlier explorers to chart the route around our country to the east - India etc. And there he lies as pious as a pope. The lions look tired of carrying the cask all these years.

Creat capture with some help of a friend (Luis)

EJWilkins: It is a beautiful tomb, as the man deserves.

I'll take any help I can get to get a picture, and Luis Camoes was handy.

You have captured this so well, Ellie, with incredible lighting for such an old tomb. Please explain to me what you did, assuming you did not use your flash (I don't see any shadows!), or is it well-lit? The carvings are just spectacular, as are the tired lions, already mentioned. This is the kind of pic you can just sit and stare at, finding something new the longer you look.

It's nice once again to have the history lesson on a Sunday.

EJWilkins: How did I do it? I had the camera on auto and clicked the shutter. I didn't know anything better at the time, because I was still learning how to use the camera. I only took the one, so if it hadn't been any good ... There was a lot of light coming in through the doorway, I suppose that helped, but it didn't cast any strong shadows. I haven't done anything to this picture apart from straightening it and cropping it a bit because there was the edge of a sign on the wall to the right.
It fascinates me too, there is so much to see, much more than we really had time to look at when we were there.

These type of photos are always difficult light wise, so you are very lucky you did have good natural light Ellie. Very well photographed tribute to a great explorer. Although I would have preferred a slightly tighter crop on the top of the pic, I see you are getting close to minimum pixel allowance, so that may well be difficult. May I also suggest a bit of colour and contrast treatment, just to add a bit more punch? Very good work, even so. Kindest regards, Neil.

EJWilkins: When I took the picture I was blissfully ignorant of the potential pitfalls, hadn't much of a clue about what might go wrong, I simply assumed the camera knew what it was doing.
The picture was sized to match the "one side of 700 pixels" setting that suits Shutterchance, reduced from its original size. It might look completely different with the new set-up, I'll have to wait and see what happens. I tried a couple of shallower crops, but they seemed to focus attention on the tomb rather than on the effigy, so left it as it was.
Thanks a million for your help Neil, I appreciate it.

Ah my well traveled historian friend, this is a very nice shot for one who was new to her camera and just wanted something to remember from her trip to Portugal. Vasco along with Americo Vespuci are my fav explorers. Thanks for the lession El.

EJWilkins: Well travelled? I wish. I've only crossed that little bit of water a few times each way. You've nailed the reason for the picture, it's a memory that I thought I'd share, nothing more. I think almost all of my pictures are like that, never really considered it before. Thanks for making me think ... again, it must be the second or third time this week.